Sheridan Football Job Stays in the Family
Legendary Sheridan football coach Paul Culver Jr. retired from his post after 35 seasons at the helm, but the Culver name will continue to stomp the sidelines in Thornville this fall.
Paul Culver III was approved at a school board meeting Thursday night to succeed his father as the Generals’ next football coach.
“Paul (Culver III) has been with the program for 16 years as a coach and also played at Sheridan, so he bleeds Red and Gray,” athletic director Lance Dupler said. “(He) loves Sheridan football, knows what it means to our community and school, and we feel like he’s fully ready to take on this big responsibility.”
Culver III–a 1994 Sheridan graduate–is looking forward to the challenge.
“I learned from one of literally the all-time best, and it just can’t be re-stated how incredible of a coach my dad was and how much I got to learn from him,” Culver III said.
The elder Culver racked up 324 wins over the course of his hall of fame career, ranking in the top ten in state history. He entered retirement having suffered just one losing season since the start of the century.
“I always knew that if and when he stepped down, he would make sure he did it in a year where the next year’s coach would be set up for success,” Culver III said.
The head coach has changed for the Generals, but the rest of the pieces are staying in place. Dupler confirmed that all of Sheridan’s assistant have been retained.
“I am a first-year head coach, so while I’m excited and prepared, I’m also inexperienced,” Culver III said. “I’m going to lean on the team–a great group of seniors–and lean on my assistants.”
Culver III noted that Thursday, Jan. 7 was a significant day in more ways than one: his father celebrated his 66th birthday on the same day the coaching torch was officially passed to his son.
“He’s always going to be a part of who I am as a coach, whether he’s there or not,” the younger Culver said. “The support is immeasurable. I am who I am because of my parents and the things they’ve instilled in me.”
And while Paul Culver Jr. is currently enjoying the pleasures of retirement, Culver III claims that the 2016 Sheridan football team will undoubtedly feature his father’s fingerprints.
“I’m not going to give him a choice. I’m going to ask him to be an official part of it and I’m going to ask him to be an unofficial part of it,” Culver III said. “There won’t be anything that I do that won’t be me going back to my dad for at least advice or his input or something along those lines.”
– Pat Chiesa
